Improvement in sabots for projectiles



2 sheets-sheet 41.

G. W. STAFFORD.

Sabot for Projectiles A Patented July 7, 1863.

NL PErEnS. PHoTollT IIIIHIII ANN TP 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

c.' w. STAFFURD.

Sabot for Projeotiles.

Patented July 7,1863.

"IIIIIIV i Miren Sterns CHARLES IV. STAFFORD,

OF BURLINGTON, IOVA.

EMPROVENENT IN SABOTS FOR PROJECTLES.

Speciiieaiion Forming part of Letters-Patent Fo. 39,173. dated July 7,ltCll.

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. STAFFORD, of Burlington, in the county ofDes Moines and State of Iowa, have `invented a new and Improved Sabotfor Spherical and other Sub- Caliber Projectiles, and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l is an axial section of my improvedsabot with a spherical shot placed therein and the whole ready fortransportation or for placing in the gun. Fig. 2 is a sectionalperspective view ofthe sabot with the shot separated therefrom, as inthe act of iring. Fig.V 3 is a front view of the sabot, and Fig. 4 is aside view. f

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

lThe subject of my invention is an improved construction of sabotadapted to receive the full force of the explosion upon an area largerthan that o'f the shot, guide the shot in an accurately central positionthrough the bore and separate from it, by atmospheric resistance at theinstantV ofleaving the gun or immediately after, the principal objectsbeing to relieve the p gun from undue strain, impart a high initialvelocity to the projectile, relieve it from the effect of atmosphericresistance upon the sabot or casing, and give it an accuracy equal, ornearly so, to that of a full-caliber shot.

In order that others skilled in rthe art to which my inventionappertains may be cnabled to fully understand and use the same, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

A B O D represent a base-plate o1" peculiar construction, which may becast in one piece of brass, iron, or other suitable meta-l. The saidbase-plate is formed of a disk, A, with a surrounding flange, D, aconcentric conical shell, O, and a central post, D, the purposes of allwhich will be presently explained.

E E E2 Ez are a series of wooden rings placed one upon another in themanner shown, and connected to each other and to the metal disk A bylongitudinal bolts F F.

G is a metal band, shrunk or otherwise sccured on the front of thecasing or sabot thus formed. The external diameter of this band lcorresponds .exactly with that of the outer iiange, IB, of thebase-plate.

S represents the shot. The interior of the rings E2 and E in iront ofthe center of the shot have a diameter equal to that of the shot, topermit the insertion of the shot within the easing, and also to permitits escape therefrom in a forward direction inthe act of ring, ashereinafter explained. The interior of ring Ff' is in addition expandedfrom the front bacl placed a mass, I, of plaster-of-paris or othersuitable material, to secure the shot within the from place to place.The interior of the ring E and the front ofthe conical shell O and postD form together a hemispherical cavity fitting the back of the shot.

rlhe peripheries of the flange B and band G constitute guides, by whichthe sabot is held and guided in an accurately central position withinthe bore, and also serve to confine the wooden casing at its respectiveends, so as to preserve its i'orm and give it the necessary strength.

Operation The base-plate, rings, and band being secured together in themanner shown, the shot S is placed in the sabot thus formed, and isthere secured by the application of the plaster I. It is then ready fortransportation or for placing in the gun. In loading it is inserted withthe base-plate next to the charge and the open end of the sabot forward.When the gun is fired, the force of the explosion is communicated to theshot by the metallic baseplate, and thel strength and peculiar formofthe latter preserve itfrom the possibility of break` age, the conicalshell C ait'ording an abutment avoiding unnecessary weight. The instantthe front of the sabot reaches the muzzle ot' the gun the resistance ofthe atmosphere, be

shot in proportion to their respective weights, slightly retards thesabot, while the shot separates from it in a precisely longitudinaldiu,rection and pursues its course alone.

The invention, in the particular form above described, is particularlyadapted for use with a spherical projectile in a smooth-bore gun. Byvarying the shape of the interior of the sabot it may be adapted for usewith proj ectward, forming a dovetail cavity, in which is casing whilebeing handled or transported which cannot crush, and at the same timevlng greater against the sabot than against the iles of other form7 andby the use of suitable packing rings or disks it may be adapted to C, toform an abutment between the disk A and the rear of a spherical or othershot.

2. A sabot constructedwith a disk, A, iiange B, conical disk C, rings EE E2 E3, and band G, substantially as described, for use in con-Anection With a sub-caliber shot or shell.

The above specification of my improved construction of sabot forspherical and other projectiles signed this 16th day of April, 1863.

C. NV. STAFFORD.

lVitnesses:

Oornvrus KNIGHT, CHARLES SMITH.

